Halfway There

Saturday was another run for the LA Running Club.

I had run Tuesday and felt good; but, then managed to catch a cold (In August!?!?!?!?) and thought it best to get rest as much as I could. I feel a bit upset about not doing midweek runs; but, it has been one thing after another these days.

It was nice to start with overcast skies and also I really heard the waves crashing along the shore of the Pacific.

There was a warning that a fellow LARC member had been mugged the Saturday before; fortunately, Santa Monica Police Department tracked the culprit down and it seems he will be enjoying free state housing for a while. The LARC also had a stretching workshop; so, after all these different activities, I felt looser than normal and also energized.

This was also a longer run ...

I set out and was feeling quite good and running fast, too fast, for this point of training and distance.

I made the Santa Monica Pier and continued southward towards Venice.

Venice is home territory more or less due to LA Roadrunners training; so, it is a comfort zone, even with all the strange people and behavior everpresent.

Once I reached the landmark flagpole at Windward, I headed down the straightaway that is Speedway. I slowed some; but, still felt pretty good.

I reached the jetty, where I had gone last week, and continued onwards to Marina del Rey.

Marina del Rey has many nice townhouses and obviously a marina, with many very large and nice and expensive boats and yachts. Somehow I missed a turn and did not quite reach Mother's Beach (I did see it!); but, reached the end of one pier and having gone over halfway for assigned mileage worked my way to head home. It felt a bit weird being down there on my own; but, I had made it. I also felt the effects of the cold coming on again.

I started heading back through the marina and the nice areas and into Venice. Speedway was crowded with cars, movers, and runners/walkers. I was plugging along which was alright.

The Venice boardwalk reminded me of how weird the area is ... I heard "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" coming from one store. Just further evidence that marijuana use is not a good thing.

When I reached the Casa del Mar hotel in Santa Monica, I stopped to finish off my bottle of water. There were more people out and the sun was starting to peer through the clouds.

I was starting to struggle a bit; but, I kept moving and overall it was alright.

Climbing up the Santa Monica Pier proved to be an issue with just a lot of people and traffic there for some reason early. At one point, I was walking and it was not due to lack of energy.

I made Ocean Avenue and was slower than the way out but was still going. I was happy to do the mental countdown of streets as I neared the starting point.

Finally, I crossed California Incline and got the feeling ... and even managed to increase speed a bit. I wanted so badly to sprint; but, there was just too much traffic of human and dog nature to go for it.

At last, I made the LARC base and started stretching. Then, it was Gatorade time!

I had done the distance and a bit more for October 24. My pace was a tad slower than I wanted; but, it was not disastrous.

Not bad. I definitely need to work on my speed and power reserves; but, at least I can do the distance.

2:41.35 of running
13.36 miles
12:07 pace

Why Is His Head on Fire and Back Home

Monday, I was back home and having taken an extra hour of precious sleep in the morning decided to run at night for the LA Roadrunners program. So, I took my Aleves and headed out to Clover Park and the roads by Santa Monica Airport.

My knee was a bit dodgy; but, alright as I began and soon I was on the Donald Douglas Loop North. I skipped the hills to give my knee a break.

On reaching the park, I loaded up with some water and then started doing laps. I was doing decent, but not great. My knee was a bit bothersome; but, it was not painful. Still, I was off the pace I wanted. On the other hand, I was running!

By the end of the 45 minutes, I had built up a good lather and as can happen in less warm temperatures (note NOT cold), essentially steam vapors started coming off my head, prompting one child rather loudly to ask his mother, "Is that man's head on fire?" Well, no, it has happened before in sports.

I stretched a bit and then started to walk home to cool down. I was soon reminded that I was not in Running Springs anymore. First, I had a presumably mentally ill bicyclist (or may be he was on drugs) say some rather interesting things, many being profane, at me. Then, right in front of my apartment ... a younger man seated on the curb, which is nothing unusual ... except he was in handcuffs and was accompanied by four Santa Monica Police Department police cars, two being K-9 units.

Welcome Home.

I hope somehow this is just another experience in making it to the finish of the Los Angeles Marathon on March 21. Otherwise, I am going to be overwhelmed.

45:53 minutes of fun for 4.21 miles at a 10:55 pace (target was 10:30 ... but, I did have some traffic light stops, plus knee, being post-retreat tired and a cold. have to stop making bloody excuses and just perform better!).